Chief Considerations

[Sorehl 0]

Captain Sorehl slid out of the Jeffries tube into the expansive engineering room of the Sovereign-class Excalibur. With a full shift of engineering officers crowded into the double-decked area, the contrasting sea of yellow and black uniforms blended into the illusion of a productive beehive. He nodded, finding favor with the metaphor.

 

At first, he had considered joining the teams working repairs. But in assisting the overhaul of ships in his previous commands, he’d often found junior officers unable to ignore his rank, making him more a hindrance than help. Instead, much like before, he assumed a collection of smaller tasks and retreated into the Jeffries tube for more solitary work.

 

Sorehl approached the Main Engineering table to update the repair log. He glanced up, noting Lieutenant Feanor and a team near the Master Situation Board. Both he, Xavier, and Graham had dealt efficiently with the suspected Dominion probe, allowing it to be extracted from the hull and dispatched with necessary haste. No doubt such efficiency would aid Sorehl in his new responsibilities.

 

In addition to his role as Dominion advisor for this jaunt into the Gamma Quadrant, he had been pressed by Admiral Day into service as “captain of engineering”. A more ego-driven officer might have been concerned or insulted that a starbase commander would be asked to replace a department chief. As a Vulcan, of course, he was liberated from such petty considerations. Although he’d never served as chief engineer, his primary degree was in the field and he’d overseen the repair or refit of more than forty starships while commanding Aegis and Empok Nor. Only the circumstances of war had diverted him to the command path. He would serve where he was needed.

 

Still, there were potential complications. Starfleet tradition avoided having multiple officers with the rank of captain aboard ship, given the association of rank and position. It would not do well to have confusion over the chain of command. In a tacit acknowledgement, he had dispensed with the black-and-gray outer tunic and adopted a traditional “engineering vest”. Though the undershirt remained red, he hoped the difference in appearance would offset him from the executive staff.

 

He reviewed the list of remaining repairs, satisfied with the progress. As they’d been reminded from this latest, distasteful encounter, the Dominion was not a power to be trifled with. Both ship and crew would need to be in top condition.